Loading machine



March 28, 1939. F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Filed Nov; 4, 1935v E'SheetS-Sheet 1 March 28, 1939 F, CARTUDGE 2,151,741

LOADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1955 s SheetsSheet 2 March 28, 1939.

F. CARTLIDGE LOADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 28, 1939 ATENT GFE LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application November 4, 1935, Serial No. 48,189

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in loading machines and more particularly to improvements in the gathering and loading element' of a loading machine especially adapted for use in loading lump material, as, for instance, in coal mines.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved gathering and loading element for a loading machine which is arranged with a view towards increased loading capacity and eflicient operation. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means for holding the gathering elements in engagement with the coal during the gathering operation so said gathering elements may break; up large lumps of material or cut through tight or unsevered material.

My invention may best be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loading machine of the track mounted type, illustrating one form in which my invention may be embodied;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the gathering and loading element of the machine shown in Figure l, with certain parts broken away and. shown in section in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the gathering and loading element shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and shown in vertical section in order to illustrate certain details of my'invention not shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the forward portion of one of the gathering elements with certain parts shown in section;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line l'l of Figure 2.

In the drawings, my invention is shown as being embodied in a loading machine of the track-mounted type, the main elements of which are essentially the same as shown in my prior Patent No. 2,066,137, which issued December 29, 1936. Said main elements will only herein be described insofar as is necessary to enable my present invention to be clearly understood.

In the form shown, the loading machine consists generally of a wheeled truck or main frame l9 having a horizontally and vertically swingable gathering and loading element l I mounted at the forward end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom, and a discharge conveyer I2 extending 5 from beneath the rear end of said loading element and upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Said discharge conveyer is arranged to overhang the rearward end of said main frame for discharging material into suitable receiving means, such as mine cars or the like. I

The gathering and loading element ii may, as usual, comprise an inclined conveyer frame 14 pivotally supported between transverse trunnion supports l5, l5. Said trunnion supports are disposed at the forward end of said main frame and are pivotally movable with respect thereto about a vertical axis for swinging said conveyer frame in a horizontal plane. The mechanism for effecting swinging movement of said trunnion supd ports and for pivotally swinging said conveyer frame on said trunnion supports is not herein shown or described since it forms no part of my present invention and is fully disclosed in my aforementioned patent. 25

The inclined conveyer frame M, as herein shown, preferably comprises a rearward conveyer section It and a forward gathering section I! connected thereto and extending forwardly therefrom. Said forward gathering section has a widened apron 18 formed integral therewith and extending forwardly therefrom in an inclined plane which is herein preferably shown as being adjacent and parallel to the plane of the conveyer.

The forward and rearward sections Ill and iii of the frame Hi are provided with a material conveyer, herein shown as comprising a central portion or pan 19 forming a surface for moving material therealong. The moving parts of the conveyer consist of a pair of parallel-spaced endless chains 28, 20 having material engaging flights 2!, 21 carried therebetween at suitable intervals. Said chains are trained around suitable drive sprockets (not shown) adjacent the rearward end 45 of the machine and said sprockets are driven from a suitable motor on the main frame It in a manner which is not herein shown or described since itis clearly illustrated in my aforementioned patent and is no portion of my present invention.

The conveyer chains 20, 20 extend forwardly from the rearward end of the frame l4 beneath the pan 19 to and around a pair of sprockets 23, 23 secured to a transversely extending shaft 24 journaled in the forward end of the forward gathering section H in a manner which. will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds (see Figures 2 and 3). From thence said chains extend upwardly along a pair of guide rails 25, 25 extending along opposite sides of the pan l9. Said guide rails space said chains above the upper surface of the pan I3 and permit them to travel therealong to the rearward end thereof, and said chains and flights thus form a means for continuously moving material upwardly along said pan.

Referring now particularly to the mechanism for gathering material and depositing it onto the inclined conveyer and one of the novel features of my invention, said gathering mechanism comprises a pair of spaced endless chains 21, 21 mounted in chain-guiding members 28, 28 for orbital movement thereabout. Said chain guiding members are mounted on the apron |8 on each side of the conveyer in a plane which is herein shown as being parallel to the plane of the apron and conveyer. Said chain-guiding members extend rearwardly from a point disposed forwardly of the forward end of said conveyer and diverge laterally from said conveyer as they extend rearwardly therealong. Said chain-guiding members are of an ordinary adjustable construction having a channeled guide formed thereabout so will not herein be described in detail, except as to the details of the forward end thereof which will hereinafter be more fully described. Said endless chains have gathering arms 23, 29 adapted to extend laterally therefrom and beyond the forward end of said apron, when rounding the forward end of said guiding members, a distance sufficient to permit them to gather material from the ground in advance of said apron.

The drive for each of the endless gathering chains 27, 21 is similar, so one only will herein be described in detail. Said drive includes a drive sprocket 30 mounted on the shaft 24 outwardly from the sprocket 23 and driven by said shaft. Said shaft extends through the inner half of a housing and bearing support member 3| and the sprocket 3G is disposed within said housing member.

The drive sprocket 30 is adapted to have an endless chain 33 trained therearound which meshes with a drive sprocket 34 keyed on a stub shaft 35 disposed parallel to the transverse shaft 24. Said stub shaft is journaled in a suitable ball bearing which is mounted in the housing member 3| and a housing member 33 abutting said firstnamed housing member. Said last-named housing member is secured to the rearward end of said first-mentioned housing member in a transversely extending plane, perpendicular to the plane of said apron, by means of suitable nuts and bolts in a usual manner.

A bevel pinion 31 is keyed to the outer end of the stub shaft '35 and meshes with and drives a bevel gear 38 on the lower end of a shaft 39 disposed perpendicular to the apron I8. Said lastnamed shaft is journaled at the upper side of said bevel gear adjacent the hub thereof in a ball bearing 4|] mounted in the housing members 3| and 3B and is journaled adjacent its upper end in a ball bearing 4| mounted in a suitable cap 42 secured to the upper end of the chain-guiding member 28 in a usual manner. A sprocket 43 is keyed on said shaft intermediate the upper and lower sides of the chain-guiding member 28 and meshes with the endless chain 21 for driving said chain at a slower speed than the speed of said conveyer.

A cover 44 is secured to the under surface of the housing members 3| and 36 adjacent the rearward end thereof and beneath the bevel gear 38 to form a closure for said housing members and enclose said bevel gear and pinion therein.

Each outer end of the transverse shaft 24 is journaled in a suitable ball bearing mounted in a suitable bearing support means provided in a housing member 45. Said housing member abuts the housing member 3| in a pair of parallelspaced vertical longitudinally extending planes and is detachably secured thereto by means of cap screws and nuts and bolts in a usual manner. Said last-named housing member forms a means whereby the drive chains 33, 33 may readily be accessible for inspection or repair (see Fig ures 2 and 3).

It will be seen from the foregoing that a drive from the inclined conveyer to the gathering mechanism has been provided which includes a separate drive connection to each drive chain from the extreme forward or tension end of the conveyer and that this drive is accordingly more efiicient than formerly and eliminates a transverse drive shaft extending through the conveyer and driven by the conveyer intermediate the ends thereof. It will also be seen that the arrangement of parts is such as to provide a simplified enclosed drive which may readily be accessible for inspection or repair.

Referring now particularly to the means for clearing the gathering arms from material after the latter has been deposited on the inclined conveyer, said means includes an arrangement whereby said conveyer is moved faster than said arms so as to move material away from the arms, and also includes an improved means for raising said arms above the conveyer at their outward turning point, utilizing the same principle disclosed in the Shanaberger Patent No. 1,680,695. As herein shown, each gathering arm is pivotally mounted on a pivotal pin it secured at its ends to a pair of spaced lugs 41, 4'! extending outwardly from suitable spaced-apart links of the endless chain 21 (see Figures 2, 3 and 5). Each arm is mounted between said lugs, and said pin, as herein shown, is disposed so that its pivotal axis is parallel to the path of travel of said chain to permit the gathering arm to be pivoted upwardly with respect to said chain and apron.

Each of said gathering arms is provided with an outwardly extending cutter bit 49 detachably mounted therein in a suitable manner and ex- 1. tending forwardly of the forward end of the apron I8, and an upwardly extending cutter bit 50 mounted therein in a similar manner. Said last-named bit is adapted to cut clearance for said arms and the chain-guiding members 28, 28.

The means for pivoting said gathering arms upwardly about the axis of the pivotal pins 46, 46 and lifting said arms out of the coal on the conveyer at their turning point away therefrom comprises an angularly disposed fiat cam memher or bearing strip 53 engaging the under side of each of the gathering arms as they move upwardly along the apron. Each of said cam members is secured to the upper portion of the apron I8 and extends upwardly along said apron from a point disposed adjacent the forward end of the conveyer around the rearward end of said apron to the outer side thereof in a path which conforms generally to the path traversed by said gathering arms. Each of said cam members is spaced from said guiding members a distance which is herein shown as being equal substantially to the distance the lugs 41, 41 project from said endless chains so said cam members may engage a substantial portion of said arms and form a rigid support therefor. Said cam members are initially inclined adjacent the forward end of the conveyer in planes disposed generally transversely of said apron, and, the angles of inclination thereof gradually increase as said cam members extend upwardly along said apron. The maximum angle of inclination of said cam members is at the point where said gathering arms turn away from the conveyer. From this point to the point where said arms begin to travel downwardly along said apron, the angle of inclination of said cam members is substantially constant and the shape thereof, as they turn around the rearward end of said guides, simulates the inside of a segment of a truncated cone. As said arms travel downwardly along said apron, the angle of inclination of said cam members gradually decreases until a point is reached where said arms may lie flat against said apron.

.Means may be provided for positively restraining pivotal movement of said gathering arms while traveling downwardly, along said apron which includes an abutment or shoulder 54 on the upper side of said arm and a similar abutment Me on the lower side of said arm. Said first-mentioned abutment is formed on the inner end of the gathering arm, adjacent the outer side of the chain guide above the pivotal axis of said arm, and said second-mentioned abutment is disposed beneath the pivotal axis of the gathering arm adjacent the outer side of said chain guide. Each of said shoulders is adapted to engage the outer sides of the guiding member 23 during travel therearound. Said upper outer sides of said chain-guiding members are inclined adjacent said cam members in planes generally perpendicular to the planes of inclination of said cam members to permit pivotal movement of said arms in an upward direction. The retreating sides of said guiding members forwardly of said cam members are herein shown as being substantially perpendicular to said apron to positively hold said arms from upward or downward pivotal movement with respect to said apron during their travel downwardly along said apron.

The means for positively holding said arms in engagement with the coal at their lower turning point includes a direction-changing device 55, herein shown as being a sprocket. Said directionchanging device is journaled adjacent the forward end of each guiding member 28 on a suitable bearing 56. Said bearing is mounted on a 'shaft 51 disposed perpendicularly to the apron l8 and supported at its ends in said guiding member and apron in a suitable manner (see Figure 3) Said direction-changing device, as herein shown,

has an integrally formed lower flange 59 of a disk-like formation upon which the endless chain 21 may rest and which is adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 54a of the gathering arm 29. An upper flange 6B of a disk-like formation of a larger diameter than said lower flange and of a greater diameter than the maximum width of said chain-guiding member is provided on the upper end of said direction-changing device see Figures 2, 4 and Said upper flange is adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 54 of the gathering arm 29. Said upper and lower flanges, accordingly, form a rotatable holding means for holding said gathering arms in the general plane of travel of said chain and permitting said gathering arms to gather and dig into or out large lumps of coal or tight or unsevered coal.

It should herein be noted that while the lower and upper flanges or disks 59, 59 and 60, 60, respectively, being continuously driven by the endless chains 21, 27, form an anti-friction means for holding the gathering arms in engagement with the coal, that said upper flanges also form a means for continuously agitating relatively loose coal and preventing the accumulation of coal on top of the chain guiding members 28, 28.

It will now be seen that a new and improved gathering mechanism for loading machines has been provided which is so arranged that the gathering arms are rigidly supported as they are gradually raised above the inclined conveyer after material has been deposited thereon, to permit said conveyer to carry material away from said gathering arms at a greater speed than it is deposited thereon by said gathering arms.

It will further be seen that a novel means has been provided for positively holding said gathering arms in their normal digging or cutting plane while moving in extended position at the front end of the gathering head during the loading operation.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied,

it will be understood that the construction or arrangement of the various parts may be altered or changed without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the particular form shown, excepting as it maybe limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron, an endless chain above said apron adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyor, gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chain for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for positively restraining pivotal movement of said arms during their lower turning movement comprising a rotatable member having means on its periphery ccacting with abutting surfaces on said arms.

2. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron, an endless chain above said apron adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, gathering arms pivotally mounted on said chain for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, a rotatable direction-changing device for said chain at the lower turning point thereof,

- said gathering arms having abutments extending inwardly from the upper sides thereof, and means on said direction-changing device offset from said chain adapted to be engaged by said aboutments of said arms for restraining pivotal movement thereof at their lower turning point.

3. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along each side of said conveyer and beyond the forward end thereof, a pair of laterally-spaced endless chains on said apron extending along opposite sides of said con- Veyer, said chains having gathering arms pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to their plane of travel and extending laterally therefrom and beyond the lower end of said apron at the lower turning points of said chains, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning points, and guide means for positively restraining upward pivotal movement of said arms during their lower turning movement comprising rotatable members having means on their outer periphery coacting with abutting surfaces of said arms.

4. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an end-- less chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for positively restraining movement of said arms in an upward direction during the latter part of their downward movement along said apron and the initial part of their upward movement, and at their lower turning point comprising abutments extending upwardly and inwardly of said gathering arms and adapted to engage the outer periphery of said chain guides.

5. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for positively restraining movement of said arms in an upward direction during the latter part of their downward movement and the initial part of their upward movement along said guides and at their lower turning point comprising abutments extending upwardly and inwardly of said gathering arms and adapted to engage the outer periphery of said chain guides, and a rotatable direction changing device adapted to engage said chain and having means disposed thereabove adapted to engage said abutments.

6. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally frcm said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turn ng point, and means for positively restraining movement of said arms in an upward direction during the latter part of their downward movement and the initial part of their upward movement along said guides and at their lower turning point comprising abutments extending upwardly and inwardly of said gathering arms and adapted to engage the outer periphery of said chain guides, and a rotatable direction changing device adapted to engage said chain and having means disposed thereabove of a larger diameter than the width of said chain guide and bemg adapted to engage said abutments during the forward turning movement of said gathering arms.

7. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, means for positively restraining movement of said arms in an upward direction during the latter part of their downward movement and the initial part of their upward movement along said guides and at their lower turning point comprising an abutment disposed above and extending inwardly of the pivotal axis of each of said gathering arms, another abutment disposed below and extending inwardly of the pivotal axis of each of said gathering arms, said abutments being adapted to engage the outer peripheries of said chain guides above and below the planes of said chain.

8. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for positively restraining movement of said arms in an upward direction during the latter part of their downward movement and the initial part of their upward movement along said guides and at their lower turning point comprising an abutment disposed above and extending inwardly of the pivotal axis of each of said gathering arms, another abutment disposed below and extending inwardly of the pivotal axis of each of said gathering arms, said abutments being adapted to engage the outer peripheries of said chain guides above and below the planes of said chain, and a rotatable direction changing device at the forward end of said chain guide, said direction changing device being adapted to engage said chain and having means rotatable therewith and disposed above and below said chain adapted to be engaged by said abutments.

9. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms beyond a certain predetermined point during their upper tLu'ning movement and for holding said arms parallel to said apron during the latter portion of their path of travel downwardly along said apron at their lower turning point, and during the initial portion of their travel upwardly along said apron comprising abutments extending inwardly and upwardly from said arms above the pivotal axes thereof and adapted to have sliding engagement with the upper outer periphery of said chain guide.

10. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an

endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point, and means for restraining pivotal movement of said arms beyond a certain predetermined point during their upper turning movement and for holding said arms substantially parallel to said apron during the latter portion of their path of travel downwardly along said apron at their lower turning point, and the initial portion of their travel upwardly along said apron comprising abutments extending inwardly from said arms above and below the pivotal axes thereof and adapted to have sliding engagement with the upper outer periphery of said chain guide, and a rotatable direction changing device having portions disposed above and below said chain adapted to engage said shoulders.

11. In a loading machine, a conveyer, an inclined apron extending along and forwardly of said conveyer, a chain guide disposed above said apron and extending along said conveyer, an endless chain movable along said guide, gathering arms projecting laterally from said chain and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical movement relative to its plane of travel, said gathering arms being adapted to gather and discharge material onto said conveyer, means for positively raising said arms as they approach their upper turning point comprising a cam engaging the under side of said arms and formed in the shape of the inside of an inverted truncated cone, an abutment extending inwardly from the upper side of each of said gathering arms and engaging said chain guides to limit upward pivotal movement of said arms beyond a certain predetermined point, said.

abutments engaging the upper outer periphery of said guide during the travel of said arms therearound and at the lower portion thereof to hold said arms in a position substantially parallel to the plane of said apron during their travel along the forward end of said apron.

FRANK CARTLIDGE. 

